Alekos Alavanos, head of SYRIZA's (Coalition of the Radical Left)
parliamentary group, is likely to unveil his intentions with regard to
the party's leadership on Friday's meeting. According to information,
he is to step down. If so, Alexis Tsipras will lead SYN-SYRIZA.

In his statements, Alexis Tsipras stressed that business interests
pushed the Prime Minister to call snap elections in order to put
forwards harsher anti-labour measures.

Alavanos, on his part, blasted the conservative New Democracy party for
asking a fresh political mandate and the Socialists of PASOK
(Panhellenic Socialist Movement) for trying to tackle the country's
nations with empty words.

As many as 211 members of the British armed forces have been killed in
Afghanistan, since the US-led invasion in 2001. The losses of the
British forces have risen since early July, when Afghan which British
troops launched a major operation against the Taleban militants to
restore safety in the southern parts of the country before the 20
August presidential vote.

Yet another British soldier was killed Wednesday in a bomb hit in
southern Afghanistan.

The solider, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
operating with the Light Dragoons Battlegroup, was in a vehicle
travelling through Babaji District in central Helmand Province when the
blast occurred.

More than two months after his death, the pop singer will be interred
in a private ceremony Thursday evening at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in
Glendale, California, the Jackson family said. The burial comes less
than a week after the Los Angeles County coroner made public his
conclusion that Jackson's June 25 death was a homicide. His family and
a few close friends, including Diana Ross, Lari King and Brooke
Shields, will escort the king of pop to his resting place.

Michael Jackson will be buried among the statues of Leonardo Da Vinci
and Michelangelo.

Called ‚astronomical,‚ the burial cost will be covered by the singer's
personal state.

At least 72 people were killed in the clashes that broke out after the
disputed June presidential vote, said Iranian opposition leader Mir
Hossein Mousavi. Iranian authorities, who have blamed the clashes on
the opposition and the West, said that the death toll has soared to
26.

The political turmoil that broke out in Iran after the presidential
vote, the massive demonstrations and the clashes plunged the country in
the worst political crisis following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

No group has claimed responsibility for the hit at the Athens Stock
Market in the early hours of Wednesday and for the bomb blast outside
the building housing the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry in the northern
Greek city of Thessaloniki. The anti-terrorism squad is investigating
both cases.

A woman was slightly injured in the hit against the Athens Stock
Market. An explosive devise had been planted in a small white van
parked outside the Stock Market.

Half an hour earlier a bomb had gone off outside the building housing
the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry in Thessaloniki.

Authorities believe it was a coordinated double terrorist hit, yet,
judging from the material used, they think they are dealing with two
different groups.